Category: Events

Learn what’s going on at the farm!

  • Cane Boil 2025: Recap

    Thank you to everyone who braved the chilly weather and joined us for our Cane Boil & BBQ this past weekend! We hope you had a great time enjoying our farm-fresh food, live music, and getting a behind-the-scenes look at how we preserve our organic sugar cane crop. We also hope you had fun with the u-pick experience!

    Our delicious cane syrup is available for purchase on our website and at the farmers markets we attend, so you can have a taste of the event at home. Below, we’ve shared some photos from the day and an old-fashioned lard biscuit recipe, so you can recreate the pastured pork sausage biscuits we served (don’t forget the cane syrup drizzle for the perfect touch!).

    Thanks again for being part of this special event—we can’t wait to see you next time!

    FSO Team Photo

    Old-Fashioned Lard Biscuit Recipe – Tip: measure the lard at room temperature or melt it, measure accurately, then refrigerate or freeze the portion you need for the biscuits. For our patties we used 3 oz meat so you can get 6-7 patties from each package of our sausage.

    Ingredients

    • 240 grams (2 cups) all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting the work surface
    • 10 grams (1 tablespoon) baking powder
    • ¼ teaspoon baking soda
    • 6 grams (1 ¼ teaspoon) kosher salt
    • 72 grams (6 tablespoons) lard, cold
    • 240 grams (1 cup, 240 milliliters) buttermilk, cold

    Directions

    PREP:

    • Position an oven rack to the center position and preheat to 450°F/230°C.
    • Spray a cake pan with non-stick spray or line a sheet pan with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.
    • Measure out all ingredients. Keep the lard and buttermilk in the refrigerator until ready to use.

    TO MAKE THE BISCUITS:

    1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour (240 grams, 2 cups), baking powder (1 tablespoon), baking soda (¼ teaspoon), and salt (6 grams, 1 ¼ teaspoon).
    2. Add the cold lard (85 grams, 6 tablespoons) to the mixing bowl and cut it into the flour mixture. To do this, press down on the fat with the wires of the pastry blender or the tines of a fork as you move it around the bowl. Continue cutting the fat into the flour until most of the pieces of fat are about the size of peas with some pieces being about the size of a walnut half.
    3. Add the cold buttermilk (240 grams, 1 cup) into the bowl and stir with a spoon or a silicone spatula just until combined. This should only take a few turns. The dough will be pretty wet and sticky.
    4. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Dust flour over the top of the dough. With floured hands bring the dough together into one mass.
    5. Pat the dough out (do not roll with a rolling pin) until it is about 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick. Using a bench knife (or a metal spatula can be helpful if you do not have a bench knife), fold the dough in half and then turn it 90 degrees. Pat out and fold again for a total of 6 times. This process is creating layers that will create flaky biscuits.
    6. Press the dough out to about 1-inch (2.5 cm) thick and use a round cutter that is about 2.5-inches (6 cm) in diameter to cut out your biscuits. When cutting out, dip your cutter in flour, press straight down, and pull it back up without twisting it. Twisting can seal the edge of your biscuit, not allowing it to rise fully. Gently pat the scraps together to cut out the rest of your biscuits. Alternatively, you can pat the dough into a rectangle and use a sharp knife to divide the dough into 8 rectangular-shaped biscuits.
    7. Place the biscuits in the prepared cake pan or baking sheet with the edges touching so they will rise up against each other.
    8. As an optional step, place the pan in the freezer for 10 minutes before baking. This will ensure that your biscuits will not spread too much and will allow your oven to fully pre-heat.
    9. Bake at 450°F/230°C for 13-15 minutes until golden brown. Do not open the oven door for at least the first half of baking time. You want the steam to stay trapped in the oven to help with the rise.

     

    Farmer John in the “sugar shack” showing guests how we boil down the sugar cane juice to make syrup.

     

    Chewing on sugar cane!

     

    Nom, nom!

     

    Guest, Anna, with our pastured pork hot dog and pickled okra!

     

    Amy serving guests in our onsite commercial kitchen.

     

    Carrot U-Pick Haul!

     

    U-Pick Carrots

     

    Ian of Berry Land serving up some fresh sugar cane juice, kombucha, and hot drinks!(https://www.instagram.com/berryland352/)

     

    Anna Surento Music (https://www.instagram.com/annasurentomusic/)
  • Cane Boil 2025

     

    You’re invited to join us for our annual Cane Boil!

    Farmer John will demonstrate how we preserve our sugar cane crop and capture Florida sunshine in a bottle.

    During the event you’ll be able to observe how our organically grown sugar cane becomes rich, tasty cane syrup using an antique mill and traditional methods. Taste a sample of the fresh hot batch of syrup once it reaches the ready point after a long day of cooking down.

    Enjoy live music by local artists Anna Surento from 11 am-1 pm & The Sparks and the Fire from 1 pm-3 pm.

    Cane syrup will be available for sale, along with handmade baked treats and a farm to table lunch from Chefs Phil Bailey Anderson and Richard Vaughn:

    • Pasture-Raised Pork Rib Plate w/ Two Sides & Cornbread (includes drink & dessert)
    • Vegan Sweet Potato Chili w/Two Sides & Cornbread (includes drink & dessert)
    • Pasture-Raised Sausage Patty on a Handmade Biscuit w/optional Cane Syrup drizzle
    • Drinks, Dessert, Pasture-Raised Hot Dogs, and a la carte items for sale on site

    To reserve your plate, please purchase an advance ticket. Food will also be available first come, first served!

    Event Picture11 am – 3 pm: Gates & Farm Stand Open

    11 am – 3 pm: Food Served & Kitchen Open

    11:30 am & 1:30 pm: Walking Farm Tours

    11 am – 1 pm: Live Music by Anna Surento

    1 pm – 3 pm: Live Music by The Sparks and The Fire

    Learn more about the practices of caring for our pastured chickens and pigs on a guided, walking tour to “meet your meat” with Amy Van Scoik at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm.

    The Farm Stand will be open with fresh vegetables, Frog Song Kitchen value-added goods, and a selection of pasture-raised pork items.

    ____________________________________________________________________

    This is a free, educational event provided for the benefit of our community. Your donations are welcome to help us cover costs of having guests out at the farm. Please register to help us be prepared for the day.

    Guests are welcome to bring picnic blankets or camping chairs to make yourself comfortable.

    Thank you for supporting our farm!

    ____________________________________________________________________

    **Please, no early arrivals and leave pets at home.**

    Cash, credit cards, and SNAP accepted with Fresh Access Bucks matching!

    Restrooms and hand washing facilities are available.

  • NATIONAL FARMWORKER AWARENESS WEEK  |  MARCH 24 – 31, 2018

    National Farmworker Awareness Week (NFAW) is a week of action for students and community members to raise awareness about farmworker issues on our campuses and in our communities. In 2018 we celebrate the 19th Annual National Farmworker Awareness Week to raise awareness about farmworker conditions and to honor their important contributions to us every day!

    What is FAW? Learn why we celebrate National Farmworker Awareness Week.

    2018 Messages Highlight on a different farmworker issue for each day of Farmworker Awareness Week

    Ideas for Action + Social Media Get a few ideas of what to do on your campus or in your community!

    Materials and Resources Downloads to help you plan your events!

    Events  Get your events on our national calendar and find events in your area!

    Partners Sign up to be an official NFAW partner! Learn more about other partners and their national campaigns.

    2017 FAW Report See what folks did at the last NFAW!

    Donate to support NFAW events and materials

    Through Student Action with Farmworkers’ programs, college students spend their summers working full time at organizations that serve the farmworker community. In addition to this full time work, students work in collaboration with farmworkers on a documentary or theater project. For this year’s National Farmworker Awareness Week poster we are using a documentary photograph from SAF alums Lucero Galván and Guillermo Alvarado. We are very thankful to Bonnie Campbell, Art Director at the Center for Documentary Studies, for the beautiful poster design.

    The image brings to light the reality many people are not aware of: that 85% of the fruits and vegetables we eat are hand picked. Farmworkers are out in the fields from sunrise to sunset working the land to feed the world. Through NFAW we hope to raise awareness about farmworker issues, honor their everyday contributions, and gain more allies to help us advocate for better living and working conditions in the fields.

    CONTACT

    Bianca Olivares
    Grassroots Organizer
    919-660-3660

  • October 5th: CSA Celebration Dinner @ Swine & Sons Provisions

     

    Please join us for a celebration of the Fall Season with an amazing three-course meal prepared by Chef Rhys Gawlak at Swine & Sons using primarily ingredients from our farm. Dine with the farmers and learn about how Community Supported Agriculture keeps great food & farming alive in your community.

    Please call Swine & Sons in Winter Park, FL for reservations at
    (407) 636-7601.

    Wednesday October 5th, 2016
    6:30 pm – Reception

    7:00 pm – Dinner

     

    screen-shot-2016-09-26-at-3-31-46-pm

    $50 per person plus tax and gratuity.
    Space is limited and a credit card guarantee is required.

    Please call Swine & Sons in Winter Park, FL for reservations at (407) 636-7601.

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